§1903 Annual Board of Visitors

Summary

Creates a Board of Visitors for the Coast Guard Academy to review how the Academy is run and to make recommendations. The Board includes the chair (or a designee) of the Senate Commerce Committee and the chair (or a designee) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, plus 3 Senators the Vice President appoints, 4 Representatives the Speaker appoints, 2 Senators the Vice President appoints from the Senate Appropriations Committee, 2 Representatives the Speaker appoints from the House Appropriations Committee, and 6 people the President picks. If any of those appointees are not named within 180 days after the first session of a Congress starts, certain subcommittee chairs and ranking members fill in until the second session ends. Members of Congress serve for that Congress. Presidential designees serve 3 years and stay on until a successor is named. If someone dies or quits, the original appointing official names a replacement. Every two years the Board chooses a Member of Congress as Chair. The Chair alternates between a House member and a Senator. No one may serve as Chair for two back-to-back terms. The Commandant must invite each Board member to visit the Academy at least once a year. With the Secretary’s OK, the Board can make extra visits or meet with the Superintendent, faculty, staff, or cadets. The Board must have reasonable access to Academy grounds, facilities, cadets, and personnel. The Board reviews morale and discipline (including prevention and response to sexual assault and harassment), recruitment and retention (including diversity and issues for women), curriculum, instruction, physical equipment (buildings, housing, and deferred maintenance), finances, and other relevant matters. The Board meets at least once a year at a place chosen by the Commandant with the Board. A designated federal officer organizes meetings, helps pick the Chair, adopts a charter and schedule, and must notify members at least 30 days before a meeting. Committee leaders may each name one staff member to attend visits and meetings but those staff cannot act as Board members. Within 60 days after a meeting, the Commandant must send the Board’s actions and recommendations to the Secretary and four congressional committees and post the report on the Coast Guard’s public website. The Commandant must provide support, name a federal officer to help, and the Coast Guard will reimburse members and advisors for actual expenses as allowed by law. Within 30 days after the first session of each Congress begins, the Commandant must notify the two committee chairs and ranking members and the President about these rules.